Shotgun shell carrier

ABSTRACT

A carrier for shotgun shells that can carry the shells in an organized manner. The carrier is in the form of a tray having one or more rows of apertures. Each aperture can receive a shell and retain the same by friction forces applied to the shell by the wall of the respective aperture. Each aperture has a diameter less than the diameter of the shell and a slit in the wall of the aperture. The aperture can expand along the slit to receive the larger diameter shell and the compressible forces held the shell securely.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from a U.S. Provisional Pat. Application Ser. No. 63/321,891, filed on Mar. 21, 2022, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a shotgun shell carrier, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a tray-like shotgun carrier.

BACKGROUND

A shotgun shell, also known as a shotshell or simply a shell, is a cylindrical large-size cartridge used in shotguns. The shotgun shells are typically packed in cardboard boxes for transportation and sale. A user of a shotgun carries the shells loose in a bag or like. However, carrying the shells loose is often inconvenient.

A need is therefore appreciated for a shotgun shells carrier.

Hereinafter, the term shell refers to shotgun shells and shells similar to shotgun shells.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments of the present invention to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments and is intended to neither identify critical elements of all embodiments nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The principal object of the present invention is therefore directed to a shotgun shells carrier that allows for carrying the shells in an organized manner.

It is another object of the present invention that the shells in the carrier are easily reachable for loading.

It is another object of the present invention that the shell carrier can be attached to any supporting structure.

It is a further object of the present invention that the shell carrier can be kept in a bag.

It is still a further object of the present invention that the shell carrier can be manufactured in different capacities.

In one aspect, disclosed is a carrier for shotgun shells and a method of use thereof. The carrier comprises a tray of an elongated and solid profile, the tray has a left side, a right side, a front, side, and a rear side; and one or more rows of apertures along a length of the tray, a slit provided in a wall of each aperture, wherein each aperture is capable of expanding in diameter along the slit. Each aperture has a first diameter and is expandable along the slit up to a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is less than an outer diameter of a shell and the second diameter is more than the outer diameter of the shell.

In one implementation, the one or more rows of apertures comprises a single row, left side and right side of the tray forms the wall of the respective apertures in the row, wherein slits are provided in the left side and the right side of the tray. The slits of adjacent apertures in the row are offset from one another.

In one implementation, the one or more rows of apertures comprises a left row and a right row, the left row and the right row runs parallel to each other, left side of the tray forms the wall of the respective apertures in the left row, right side of the tray forms the wall of the respective apertures in the right row, wherein slits for the apertures in the left row are on the left side of the tray and slits for the apertures in the right row are on the right side of the tray.

In one implementation, the tray has a hole for a hook to pass through, the hook is for mounting the carrier to a supporting structure. The tray may also have an elongated slot that extends along a width of the tray, the elongated slot configured to allow a strap to pass through, the strap is for mounting the carrier to a supporting structure. The tray may have a clip configured to allow mounting the carrier to a web.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, which are incorporated herein, form part of the specification and illustrate embodiments of the present invention. Together with the description, the figures further explain the principles of the present invention and enable a person skilled in the relevant arts to make and use the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shell carrier, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the shell carrier shown in FIG. 1 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the shell carrier shown in FIG. 1 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another implementation of the shell carrier, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the shell carrier shown in FIG. 4 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the shell carrier shown in FIG. 4 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another implementation of the shell carrier, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the shell carrier shown in FIG. 7 , according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Subject matter will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and which show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. Subject matter may, however, be embodied in a variety of different forms and, therefore, covered or claimed subject matter is intended to be construed as not being limited to any exemplary embodiments set forth herein; exemplary embodiments are provided merely to be illustrative. Likewise, the reasonably broad scope for claimed or covered subject matter is intended. Among other things, for example, the subject matter may be embodied as methods, devices, components, or systems. The following detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be taken in a limiting sense.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the term “embodiments of the present invention” does not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage, or mode of operation.

The terminology used herein is to describe particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of embodiments of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising,”, “includes” and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The following detailed description includes the best currently contemplated mode or modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely to illustrate the general principles of the invention since the scope of the invention will be best defined by the allowed claims of any resulting patent.

Disclosed is a shotgun shells carrier that is of a tray-like profile and can be used to carry multiple shells in an organized manner. The carrier may be in a form of a tray having a height proportion to a length of a shell. Preferably, the height of the carrier can be about one-third to three-fourths of the length of the shells. The disclosed carrier can accommodate shells of different types including shells of different lengths and diameters. The carrier can be in a form of a solid tray having one or more rows of apertures. The apertures can be configured to receive the shells and frictionally retain them. The walls of the aperture may apply a compressible force to the shells to securely hold the shells within the apertures.

Referring to FIG. 1 shows carrier 100 has a single row of apertures. The carrier is of an elongated and solid tray-like profile. Each row has multiple apertures disposed at regular intervals. The apertures can receive the shells and retain the same until the user takes out the shell. The shells can be held in place and can be be hand removable, reusable and weather proof, wherein the carrier can hold the shells reliably in place while during high movement activities such as law enforcement. The dimensions of the tray 110 can be such that a thin wall is formed between the apertures and the left side of the tray and between the apertures and the right side of the tray. A single slit 120 in the wall of each aperture can be provided, wherein the aperture can expand along the slits. The diameter of the aperture can be slightly less than the diameter of the shell so that the aperture expands to receive the shell and compressible force can be applied to the shell by the wall of the aperture. By this compressible force, a grip can be maintained on the shell for securing the shell within the carrier. The user can bend the tray to cause expansion of the aperture which releases the shells held by the respective apertures.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3 , the slits can be provided in an alternate fashion i.e., the slits in the adjacent apertures can be offset to each other. For example, the slit in the first aperture can be provided on the left side of the tray while the slit in the second aperture can be provided on the right side of the tray and the slit on the third aperture can be provided on the left side of the tray. This arrangement of the slits can be important to prevent the bowing of the tray when loaded with the shells.

In a preferred embodiment, the shotgun shells and similar ammunition can be carried in the tray-like carrier using a compliant mechanism to securely compress the multiple shells that almost entirely wrap a shell applying a compressive force to maintain a grip on the shell. The shell carrier is shaped in a manner that allows the use of widespread magazine pouches and MOLLE webbing to carry additional shotgun shells.

The carrier can be made from rigid plastic material that allows the wall of the apertures to flex outward for creating compressive forces similar to spring action around the shells. This allows the apertures to have a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the shell to flex outwards to the greater shell diameter. When released, the resiliency of the walls applies a compressive force around the diameter of the shell thereby increasing surface friction and preventing the shell from sliding inside the carrier.

One end of the carrier can be rounded so that the carrier can be easily inserted into a pouch, for example, in a magazine pouch. The other end of the tray can have an elongated slot 140 along the width of the tray. Through the elongated slot, a strap can pass through which can be used to mount the disclosed carrier to a supporting structure. Instead of a strap, hooks such as a carabiner hook can also be provided at a corner of the carrier. For the hook, a hole can be made in a corner of the tray. The hole or the elongated slot can be provided at different places of the carrier and at more than one position so that the carrier can be mounted in a variety of ways. The elongated slot shown in FIG. 1 is rectangular in shape and provides a good grip for fingers while taking out the carrier from the pouch.

The carrier with two rows of apertures is shown in FIGS. 4-6 , the two rows are parallel to each other. The carrier 200 is of a tray-like configuration having two rows of apertures 210. Each aperture has a slit 220 in the wall of the aperture. The row, apertures, and slit can be similar to the above-described carrier 100. However, the slits are not arranged alternately but are provided on the same side of the row. As shown in the drawings, the left side row has slits on the left side of the tray and the right side row has slits on the right side of the tray. Also, carrier 200 has a clip on the left or right side of the tray. The clip can be used to hook the carrier 200 to a planar article, such as a pocket, belt, strap, webbing, and the like. The disclosed carrier 200 can be mounted like a pen using the clip. The aperture 240 adjacent to the beginning of the clip has a slit on the front side of the tray. The position of the slit of aperture 240

relative to clip 230 can be important because when the carrier is clipped to a webbing, the outward force applied to the clip flexes one edge of the slit towards the other edge enhancing the compressive force, which otherwise may expand the aperture.

FIGS. 7-8 shows another implementation of the carrier. The carrier 300 has a tray-like body, and two rows of aperture 310, each aperture has a slit in its wall, and the slits are provided on the same side of the row. The carrier 300 may be similar to the carrier 200 shown in FIG. 4 , however, no clip is provided in carrier 300. All the corners can be rounded to prevent snagging on gear.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above-described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A carrier for shotgun shells, the carrier comprises: a tray of an elongated and solid profile, the tray has a left side, a right side, a front, side, and a rear side; and one or more rows of apertures along a length of the tray, a slit provided in a wall of each aperture, wherein each aperture is capable of expanding in diameter along the slit.
 2. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein each aperture has a first diameter and is expandable along the slit up to a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is less than an outer diameter of a shell and the second diameter is more than the outer diameter of the shell.
 3. The carrier according to claim 2, wherein the one or more rows of apertures comprises a single row, left side and right side of the tray forms the wall of the respective apertures in the row, wherein slits are provided in the left side and the right side of the tray.
 4. The carrier according to claim 3, wherein the slits of adjacent apertures in the row are offset from one another.
 5. The carrier according to claim 2, wherein the one or more rows of apertures comprises a left row and a right row, the left row and the right row runs parallel to each other, left side of the tray forms the wall of the respective apertures in the left row, right side of the tray forms the wall of the respective apertures in the right row, wherein slits for the apertures in the left row are on the left side of the tray and slits for the apertures in the right row are on the right side of the tray.
 6. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the tray has a hole for a hook to pass through, the hook is for mounting the carrier to a supporting structure.
 7. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the tray has an elongated slot that extends along a width of the tray, the elongated slot configured to allow a strap to pass through, the strap is for mounting the carrier to a supporting structure.
 8. The carrier according to claim 1, wherein the tray has a clip configured to allow mounting the carrier to a web.
 9. A method for carrying shotgun shells, the method comprises: providing a carrier comprising: a tray of an elongated and solid profile, the tray has a left side, a right side, a front, side, and a rear side, and one or more rows of apertures along a length of the tray, a slit provided in a wall of each aperture, wherein each aperture is capable of expanding in diameter along the slit.
 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein each aperture has a first diameter and is expandable along the slit up to a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is less than an outer diameter of a shell and the second diameter is more than the outer diameter of the shell.
 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the one or more rows of apertures comprises a single row, left side and right side of the tray forms the wall of the respective apertures in the row, wherein slits are provided in the left side and the right side of the tray.
 12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the slits of adjacent apertures in the row are offset from one another.
 13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the one or more rows of apertures comprises a left row and a right row, the left row and the right row runs parallel to each other, left side of the tray forms the wall of the respective apertures in the left row, right side of the tray forms the wall of the respective apertures in the right row, wherein slits for the apertures in the left row are on the left side of the tray and slits for the apertures in the right row are on the right side of the tray.
 14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the tray has a hole for a hook to pass through, the hook is for mounting the carrier to a supporting structure.
 15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the tray has an elongated slot that extends along a width of the tray, the elongated slot configured to allow a strap to pass through, the strap is for mounting the carrier to a supporting structure.
 16. The method according to claim 9, wherein the tray has a clip configured to allow mounting the carrier to a web. 